2010 Coppola Diamond Red Blend

The latest Coppola Diamond series wine is out... Over the years, I think my favorite was always the Claret, I thought that the Sauvignon Blanc was always underestimated, and that the weirdest was the Alicante Bouschet (which I wrote about right after visiting the winery).

This is a classic, old school California blend that produces a deep purple, rich and fruity wine. There's nothing European about this style, but it is tasty in its own way and reminds us of what wine was like pre-Prohibition as well as during the following decades of at-home wine production among Italian immigrants and their descendants.

But we have the advantage of modern equipment and more scientific winemaking, allowing for a more refined and consistent product. I enjoyed the following wine with a mixed grill of steak and smoked chicken, and the pairing worked out exceptionally well.

2010 Coppola Diamond
Red Blend
California
27% Zinfandel, 26% Syrah, 20% Petite Sirah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot
$18, 13.5% abv.

Rich, ripe, bold aromas. Bright red cherries with just a hint of oak. There's a lot of just pure grape aroma--so many wines smell like other things that it's often surprising when one is reminiscent of the grape juice we drank as children. However, it's not sweet at all, but rather has a bold and fruit forward presence and a lingering raspberry flavor. It's brighter and fruitier than most reds you encounter, yet it's somewhat more refined than a lot of the Zin/Syrah/etc. table wine blends that are coming out of California these days. Definitely something fun that breaks you out of tasting a dozen Cabs in a row. Try it out with a big plate of your Mom's lasagne recipe and put a little Dean Martin on the stereo.

Note: This wine was received as a sample.